Chelsea stars put finishing touches to their preparations ahead of title challengers clash with Manchester City

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Chelsea put the finishing touches to their preparations for Sunday's encounter with Manchester City with a practice session at their Cobham training ground.

Despite appearing in a sombre mood while issuing a statement regarding his fall out with the club's medical team during Friday's press conference, manager Jose Mourinho was all smiles as he watched over his players.

The Premier League holders will be desperate to return to winning ways after their controversial opening day 2-2 draw with Swansea City - during which Thibaut Courtois was dismissed for a foul on Bafetimbi Gomis.

Jose Mourinho (centre) smiles as he watches his players prepare for Sunday's clash with Manchester City

Chelsea captain John Terry (centre) laughs with team-mates ahead of their title challengers showdown

Radamel Falcao (centre) takes the ball down as Chelsea take part in a final training session at Cobham

(L-R) Kurt Zouma, Willian, Cesc Fabregas and Falcao battle for the ball during the training session

Last season's Player of the Year Eden Hazard has been causing City captain Vincent Kompany concerns

The Belgian No 1 will not face City at the Etihad following an unsuccessful appeal against his one-game suspension, while Mourinho also confirmed that Brazilian midfielder Oscar is 'a doubt' after picking up a knock in training during the week.

City, who won their opening game 3-0 against West Brom, are still missing Fabian Delph and Fernando but Yaya Toure, who scored a brace against the Baggies, should return after being substituted with a groin strain on Monday.

Both teams are expected to challenge for the title again this season, although the managers are adamant that, whatever the result, there is still a long way to go in the title race.

'We are speaking about 38 matches. It is an eternity, a marathon that started last week,' said Mourinho.

Leading goalscorer Diego Costa (centre) is expected to be in action despite fears over his hamstring problems

Brazilian midfielder Willian takes the ball past Fabregas as Chelsea coaches watch on

John Obi Mikel is bundled from behind by rising youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek

'I cannot say [this match] is not crucial, I cannot say it's not very, very, very important.

'They are title contenders so three points are important, but I cannot say that a win will mean anything significant,' he added.

The Portuguese shares a testing relationship with his counterpart Manuel Pellegrini, who is replaced as manager at Real Madrid, but the City boss insisted that he would not let their 'differences' interfere with the spirit of fair play.

Reserve keeper Asmir Begovic (left) will play while Thibaut Courtois serves a one game suspension

Mourinho will be hoping to return to winning ways following the controversial opening day draw with Swansea

Blues defender Cesar Azpilicueta (centre) tries to win the ball from within a circle of team-mates

Young centre-back Zouma (right) takes the ball off Falcao, who is hoping to kickstart his career

]'I said the first day I arrived here I have my differences with him [Jose Mourinho] but... I always shake hands with him,' said Pellegrini.

'We are not thinking about the title in the second game but we are thinking about trying to win our points at home, especially as we are playing against the champions and one of the teams that has a lot of chances to win the title.'

Last season's Player of the Year Eden Hazard is causing his Belgium team-mate Vincent Kompany a concern, with the City captain joking that he hopes the 24 year old comes down with stomach problems ahead of the game.

Azpilicueta has time to grin as he gets the better of Mikel during Chelsea's final preparations

Brazilian midfielder Ramires (centre) takes part in the five-a-side game at the club's Cobham training ground

City captain Kompany has joked that he hopes Hazard gets diarrhoea before the game on Sunday

Speaking to German daily Het Nieuwsblad, Kompany responded to the question of how to stop the mercurial Blues playmaker by quipping: 'You'd almost hope that Eden Hazard would have diarrhoea! 

'Now let's be serious. You can't underestimate the impact he has had on Chelsea.

'You would expect him to have a dip in his performance level. Last week, against Swansea, he maybe didn't play his best first half, but when they were reduced to 10, he was the only one who was dangerous. Because he ran past three, four defenders.

'You can have as many tactical plans as you want, if Eden starts running, it is chaos. He's at a level where he decides how good his team are,' he added.